New local website helps connect people with opportunities

Published 5:33 am, Monday, October 5, 2015

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Talk to any nonprofit organization or agency in Midland, or around the world for that matter, and you will hear a recurring need for volunteers. These organizations and agencies have tight budgetary constraints that do not allow for large operating budgets to staff numerous employees, yet each needs an “all men/women on deck” effort to help with all aspects of their organizations. That help comes in the form of volunteers.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of nonprofits, but how can nonprofits find the volunteers they need? With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, most people don’t have much time to spare. If you do want to volunteer, you want to make a difference in a way that matters to you.

Midland Volunteer Connections (midlandvolunteerconnections.org), part of a pilot program funded by the Warren Charitable Foundation in partnership with Midland Shared Spaces, is a web-based tool that connects individuals with volunteer opportunities and nonprofit agency needs in Midland. Launched on Sept. 1 of this year with a small group of health and human service organizations, the list of organizations and agencies on Midland Volunteer Connections continues to grow. The potential for this website to change Midland in a positive and lasting way is huge.

Vicki Jay, executive director of Midland Shared Spaces said, “Midland Volunteer Connections has been needed in our community for a long time. It is a very user-friendly tool that connects good people and good causes. As a community volunteer, MVC provides opportunities to uncover new volunteer opportunities that matter to me. I can find a cause that excites me and get in touch with a nonprofit that needs me. I can discover a way to give back that’s meaningful to me. As a community agency, MVC has provided a very efficient way to recruit volunteers for very specific areas. Midland Shared Spaces was fortunate to have volunteers that connected with us for the last event in our building. They were great and the process was so simple!”

The nonprofit organizations are doing their part -- listing all of their volunteer needs and opportunities on Midland Volunteer Connections. They are ready for you to sign up and make a difference. You choose your area of interest -- children, seniors, animals, art, education, etc. You also choose your level of commitment, whether you can volunteer one afternoon for an hour, or commit to a weekly role.

Midland Volunteer Connections is already making a difference in the community after just a few short weeks. Kristen Wagstrom, curator of education at the Museum of the Southwest said, “Volunteers are crucial to the function of the Museum of the Southwest. Our most recent event, the 46th annual SeptemberFest, relied on the time and talent of more than 120 volunteers in only three days. Finding, scheduling and managing this many volunteers can be much like a ballet. The new Midland Volunteer Connections website makes the whole process easier and brings Midland’s volunteer community together.”

The right match can help you meet friends, reach out to the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. The benefits of volunteering positively impact you, your family, and your community. All it takes is a few clicks.

Top Ten Reasons to Volunteer

1. A good way to pass the time while waiting for a new season of your favorite Netflix series.